Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, has attributed the collapse of Nigeria’s national carrier project to political interference.
Tasew revealed that Ethiopian Airlines had intended to support the Nigerian government in launching a successful national airline, but the initiative faced opposition from Nigerian airlines due to political motivations.
The project, which aimed to establish Nigeria Air under the previous administration led by President Buhari and managed by former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, has been surrounded by controversy.
Current Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has criticized the deal, arguing that it would not benefit Nigeria.
This is the first time Tasew has publicly addressed the contentious deal since the current government halted it.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Tasew confirmed that the project is now closed. “We had high hopes for establishing a strong national carrier for Nigeria. Unfortunately, it did not succeed after the government change; the project is closed now,” he stated.
Tasew noted that Ethiopian Airlines no longer plans to enter the Nigerian market or partner with local airlines due to the politicization of the initiative. “We tried to support Nigeria by leveraging our expertise and experience to create a profitable airline. However, the Nigerian airlines perceived our involvement as a threat to their business. Since the proposal was rejected, we have no intention of pursuing it further,” he added.
In November 2023, following a Federal Executive Council meeting, Minister Keyamo had criticized the deal, suggesting it unfairly favored Ethiopian Airlines and could lead to monopolistic practices. Reports on the deal were submitted to President Bola Tinubu, who was expected to make the final decision.
Recently, a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled against the sale of Nigerian Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines. Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa declared the proposed establishment of Nigeria Air null and void, granting reliefs to the plaintiffs, including the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and other industry stakeholders. However, the court denied a claim for damages sought by the plaintiffs.
